re: What makes your average southern man anti-union? (Posted on 11/15/12 at 12:32 pm to DanTiger)

Having been a subcontractor who worked out in the field before, I can say that my interactions with union contractors were usually negative. Defiant, lazy, not willing to work with you to get the job done over a technicality that your company isn't union and his is, etc. Very childish. The non-union contractors still have employees that act that way, but it's more of individual case by case type deal. The union companies I'm talking about, every employee acted that way and was the company-wide culture.

It made getting the job completed by cut date that much stressful. And God forbid you needed them to get something done so you could get in an area and get your job done. If they knew that, they'd pull out and move to another area just to spite you.

re: What makes your average southern man anti-union? (Posted on 11/15/12 at 12:33 pm to NOX)

quote:how is this any different than big oil and the W era?

People did not contribute dues intended to benefit themselves and the group to big oil? I have no idea whether union dues even went to Obama's campaign but big oil and union dues are totally unrelated.

re: What makes your average southern man anti-union? (Posted on 11/15/12 at 12:42 pm to Mac)

Culturally speaking, we are conditioned to try to get ahead. In many places, not just the south, we pull ourselves up by our bootstraps. And many I know, don't see the point in giving someone else money to protect me. Which is what unions are supposed to do. The idea of the union is a good one. A single employee fighting the large company over anything is a losing proposition for the employee. I'm sure if we thought for a minute we would know of someone treated crappy by a company. I sure have. But unions and companies are comprised of human beings who are always looking out for number one. Certainly, unions have gotten out of hand. But business often needs something to check it from some of the stupid shite they do in the name of profit but frequently has to do with other things I don't start with all the private enterprise ALWAYS knows best. It doesn't.

re: What makes your average southern man anti-union? (Posted on 11/15/12 at 12:43 pm to chuckie)

quote:Certainly, unions have gotten out of hand.

As evidenced by their weakening power and dwindling membership over the last 30+ years, right?

I mean, you see idiots claiming that unions are the reason that American auto manufacturers can't make a good car, but the fact of the matter is that the unions don't make the decisions to focus on shite like SUVs and Hummers when the price of fuel was going up...

The engineers aren't union workers. The people calling the shots aren't union workers.

re: What makes your average southern man anti-union? (Posted on 11/15/12 at 12:46 pm to Sophandros)

I belong to very atypical union. It is about 95% Republican, and 95% military. My union wages a full time battle to try and keep my company honest and safe, and we don't win all the battles. My union put our company, and largely the US air travel industry back together after 9/11, while many of the management of our company ran and hid in fear. It has enabled me to have a long and lucrative career, and I will have a long and lucrative retirement. I notice that people doing what I do at companies without unions for this profession have jobs that are more akin to indentured servitude, than careers.

re: What makes your average southern man anti-union? (Posted on 11/15/12 at 12:47 pm to Sophandros)

Would you be inclined to argue that anti-union sentiments are proliferated through generations rather than individually decided?

I think both are reasons, as is the case with most binary issues, but it also isn't difficult to come to the independent conclusion that Unions are corrupt and cancerous to the free market. There's no definition of "life", "conception", or "marriage" to worry about, so it is easier to excuse nuance from the issue and take a firm stance.

re: What makes your average southern man anti-union? (Posted on 11/15/12 at 12:49 pm to RealityTiger)

I've actually had the opposite experience, with the few union contractors I've delt with (pipe fitters on one job and electricians on anther). Granted, my experience is limited, but the union guys seem to have a little bit more professionalism about themselves and their work.

I've definitely had issues, but that's common for all trades (lack of clean-up, not wanting to work past 40 hrs, etc.).

Edit to add I work working on the GC side of things.

quote:Having been a subcontractor who worked out in the field before, I can say that my interactions with union contractors were usually negative. Defiant, lazy, not willing to work with you to get the job done over a technicality that your company isn't union and his is, etc.